'Able leaders, active citizens needed'

Tuesday, February 8, 2000: The Straits Times -Excerpt: Solutions must increasingly come from a dialogue between the Government and other sectors, says Tony Tan -By: M Nirmala -SINGAPORE will be courting failure if the Government alone continues to issue directives to overcome the challenges thrown up in a fastpaced global market. A potent combination of able leaders and active citizens, solving problems through dialogue, is needed to face an uncertain future, said Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan last night at a Chinese New year celebration in his Sembawang ward. Calling for a different mindset, he said: "The Government should continue to set the direction and overall framework but, increasingly, national initiatives and policies will be influenced, shaped and modified through a process of consultation, discussion, and dialogue with the people."

While having a "national conversation between the Government, workers, employers, public interest groups and private sector organisations, may take longer time to arrive at workable solutions, they will be more sustainable and have wide acceptance", he said.
He cited the town councils as an example of how responsibility has moved from the Government to the community and called for more people with vision, integrity and compassion to come forward to serve as political and community leaders. At the same time, he said that the organisations such as the Community Development Councils needed more funding to be effective. Speaking at the Sembawang Community Club, he spelt out three challenges. * How to embrace the future without forgetting the past? Singaporeans must keep on cultivating their Asian roots by knowing their traditions and mother tongues. Those who forget these strong roots, especially the young, will not have moral strength to judge wisely.

Acknowledging that it was natural for the young to be attracted to new fashions and even rebel against traditions, he said, "It is said that everyone is a rebel at 20 and a conservative at 40." * How to build a cohesive society yet ensure each Singaporean can realise his dreams? The nation will stagnate if the spirit of Singaporeans, particularly the younger ones, is stifled. There is no single formulae to solve this contradiction, he noted, adding that in this area, the Government must help set the guidelines. * How to build a modern sophisticated and competitive economy that has space for winners but does not neglect those left behind? The new economy that is transforming the world today is dominated increasingly by a 'winnertakes-all' characteristics, he said. "Companies and individuals who can spot the coming trends and be the first-in-line are rewarded fabulously. "If you are next-in-line, or worse, not even in the queue, you are left with nothing." The solution he said, was not to stop these changes as Singapore will lose its best to the United States or Europe where they can realise their dreams. But to help the less able ones, education and training should be given to help them improve themselves, he said.